RAPTORES — VULTURES. 
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concealed from sight, being covered oyer with 
leaves and grass. The upper half had not been 
exposed more than an hour, when the horizon 
was dotted with " Astvogels" which came cir- 
cling over it, and, ere the evening, it was all 
devoured ; the remaining half was left un- 
touched, and continued, where it had been 
placed, until the whole surrounding atmos- 
phere was loaded with the pestilential effluvia 
arising from it. "When thus in a state of putre- 
faction, another portion of fresh meat was then 
exposed in the valley, close to where this lay ; 
and, although this latter was instantly discover- 
ed, and devoured within twenty-four hours, 
the decomposed carrion still remained for weeks 
quite untouched. 
2. — The " Condor" or Black Vulture, is the 
next most numerous variety. It is black, ex- 
cept the secondary quills of the wings, which 
are white; the tail is broad and fan-shaped. 
It is bare on the head, and neck, and wattled 
in red skinny Aliments ; the feathers are rug- 
ged, and its expanse of wing seems greater 
than any bird of this class. It devours carrion 
voraciously, and is disinclined to soar aloft in 
the air. 
3. — The u Ixalanga " of the Kaffirs, is some- 
times confounded with the above species, but 
is a different variety. It approaches nearest 
